A Storm In Carolina

By Jeb Bohn

"One of the best new Professional Hockey books" – BookAuthority

 

From 2023 Sport History Author of the Year Jeb Bohn.

 

Professional hockey has a history in North Carolina that stretches back more than 65 years.

 

It all started with a rink fire in 1956 that displaced the Eastern Hockey League's Baltimore Clippers. In the decades since, nearly 30 teams have called the state home. Things weren't always pretty, and the teams weren't always profitable, but there was never a dull moment.

 

From the bright lights of Charlotte to the tiny mountain town of Spruce Pine (population 2,273), hockey found a home across the state. The teams, sometimes featuring former and future NHL players, have combined for 15 league championships and countless memories. Beyond that, they inspired a love of the game in generations of fans.

 

Perfect for fans of hockey and its history, A Storm In Carolina chronicles every professional team from North Carolina, past and present, as well as team leaders in several categories.

 

Grab a copy and let's drop the puck!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jeb Bohn
• Release date: Apr 23, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201723705

Jeb Bohn

Jeb Bohn is a writer, drummer, and author of the Herman Ingram series. A lover of storytelling, Jeb has spent close to a decade enthralling readers across multiple genres. Through emphasizing humanity, humor, and character, he crafted the sarcastic journalist-turned-unlikely hero Herman Ingram. The character has since appeared in three novels, with more in the future. Jeb received the title of Best American Thriller Author at the 2023 Media Innovator Awards. He also captured Best Sport History Author for North Carolina hockey chronicle, A Storm In Carolina. The book was further named as "One of the Best New Professional Hockey Books" by BookAuthority. When Jeb isn't watching the Carolina Hurricanes or his repeated viewings of RoboCop, he works from his home in Greenville, North Carolina. In his downtime, he enjoys family trips with his significant other and two children. He also makes a mean pot of chili.

Book preview

A Storm in Carolina

Copyright © 2022 by Jeb Bohn

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

Special thanks to:

Shawn Bednard

Paul Branecky

Ralph Slate

CONTENTS

Author’s Note

1. Queen City Origins

Charlotte Rebels (EHL; 1955-56)

Charlotte Clippers (EHL; 1956-60)

Charlotte Checkers (EHL; 1960-73)

Charlotte Checkers (SHL; 1973-77)

Charlotte Checkers (ECHL; 1993-2010)

Charlotte Checkers (AHL; 2010-Present)

2. Marching Into the Gate City

Greensboro Generals (EHL; 1959-73)

Greensboro Generals (SHL; 1973-77)

Greensboro Monarchs (ECHL; 1989-95)

Carolina Monarchs (AHL; 1995-97)

Greensboro Generals (ECHL; 1999-2004)

3. Party of Nine in the Twin City

Winston-Salem Polar Twins (SHL; 1973-77)

Carolina Thunderbirds (ACHL; 1981-87)

Carolina Thunderbirds (AAHL; 1987-88)

Carolina/Winston-Salem Thunderbirds (ECHL; 1988-92)

Winston-Salem Mammoths (SHL; 1995-96)

Winston-Salem IceHawks (UHL; 1997-99)

Winston-Salem Parrots (ACHL; 2002-03)

Winston-Salem T-Birds (SEHL; 2003-04)

Winston-Salem Polar Twins (SPHL; 2004-05)

Twin City Cyclones (SPHL; 2007-09)

Carolina Thunderbirds (FPHL; 2017-Present)

4. Blue Ridge Breakaway

Pinebridge Bucks (ACHL; 1983-85)

Asheville Smoke (UHL; 1998-2002)

Asheville Aces (SPHL; 2004-05)

5. Capital Incursion

Raleigh IceCaps (ECHL; 1991-98)

The NHL Expansion Bid

6. Flinging Fists in Fayetteville

Fayetteville Force (CHL; 1997-2001)

Cape Fear FireAntz (ACHL; 2002-03)

Cape Fear FireAntz (SEHL; 2003-04)

Fayetteville FireAntz (SPHL; 2004-17)

Fayetteville Marksmen (SPHL; 2017-Present)

7. Landfall

Carolina Hurricanes (NHL; 1997-Present)

A Delayed Introduction

The Inaugural Season

A Bold Move

A Free Agent Splash

1998-99

1999-2000

2000-2001

2001-2002

Primed for a Deep Run

First Trip to the Stanley Cup Final

The Hangover

The Draft Comes to Raleigh

The Lost Season

A New Era

Whatever It Takes

The Hangover, Part Two

False Hope

The Drought

The Next Generation

A New Era

Looking Ahead

8. Team Leaders

Notes

About the Author

Also by Jeb Bohn

AUTHOR’S NOTE

Growing up in North Carolina, hockey wasn’t the first sport that typically came to mind. Baseball? Sure. Football? Of course. Hockey, however, wasn’t something that I heard a lot about in my early childhood.

I spent a lot of time at my grandparents’ house and they subscribed to several magazines (everything from Bon Appétit to National Geographic). Being the curious kid that I was, I would sift through them to see what I could learn about the world around me. This is how—at the age of 8—I first really started learning about hockey. The trigger? A cover featuring a man sitting behind an array of microphones, dabbing tears from his eyes.

The man was Wayne Gretzky.

I sat on the floor and read about his trade from the Edmonton Oilers to the Los Angeles Kings, a move that fundamentally altered the hockey landscape. At the time, I had no clue how significant this trade was, how it would spur the game’s growth in non-traditional markets, and how interest in the sport would explode in the United States. Within a decade of this trade, the National Hockey League—through a combination of expansion and relocation—had teams placed markets like Dallas, Anaheim, San Jose, Miami, Tampa Bay, Phoenix, and Raleigh.

Of course, being in North Carolina when I first read the Gretzky article, I wasn’t able to watch many games. During those early years, my greatest excitement came from watching ESPN’s National Hockey Night. I waited each week for a game, eagerly anticipating the voices of Gary Thorne and Bill Clement. No, such sparse availability was not ideal, but it’s what I had and I loved it. There was something about the game that spoke to me; I can’t explain any better than that. There was just something special about it that drew me in.

As I got older, I developed a desire to play hockey in some significant way. My childhood best friend, Bryan, would come over and we would play on the walkway in front of my mom’s house. The screen door—and a few panes of glass—suffered, but she didn’t complain, at least not much. Soon after, our street hockey endeavor migrated to the parking lot of a church down the street. I had dedicated myself to the position of goaltender and spent hours skating around the lot in full gear, despite the heat and humidity of summer.

It was a lot of fun, though I drew some curious looks from passersby. I loved it, but I wanted to do more, so I joined the Parks and Recreation League in Raleigh. This was my first taste of organized hockey and, despite getting thrashed 8-2 in our first game, I was hooked. We played behind the Parker-Lincoln Building, in a parking lot, and I still have vivid memories of guys trudging down a small hill to retrieve roller hockey balls that sailed wide during warmups.

Good times.

The next chapter came one night, just before dinner. I sat in the living room reading the paper when I came across an article about roller hockey at a rink a half-hour from my house. I ate, threw my gear bag in the car, and went. Walking in, I expected to find a bunch of teenagers like myself. Instead, I found a mix of people my age and adults. There were guys from all over the US and Canada, most of whom had played at various levels throughout their lives.

One player was the facility’s manager, meaning we could play for hours. It was challenging, and it was fun. Most of the guys bonded well and the few water breaks we took were littered with conversation and (mostly) good-natured chirping. Unfortunately, all good things must end. New management came in and, soon enough, they reduced our time. Soon after, I moved out of state. Save for the random game of floor hockey, that was it for my playing career.

That, however, is only a fraction of my love for the game.

Hockey—more than any other sport, I’d argue—is best viewed live; television coverage, even as much as it’s improved, cannot do the game justice. The first game I took in was in the early 90s (I still have the ticket stub somewhere), seeing the Raleigh IceCaps at Dorton Arena. I went with my grandfather and, while he wasn’t a huge hockey fan, he got into the spirit as soon as the puck dropped. It’s one of my fondest hockey memories.

Once I got my license, I went to as many games as I could. Win or lose, I never had a bad time. Well, there was the night that my car—and several others—was broken into and vandalized, but that’s a story for another day.

Of course, East Coast Hockey League games weren’t the pinnacle of my fandom, but I’ll save that for the book. Can’t give away everything in a prologue, right?

The older I’ve gotten, the more interested I’ve become in the game's history. While that interest has always focused on the game as a whole, there’s a special place for its history in my home state. I also love sharing information, hence the creation of this book. Regardless of whether you’re a native North Carolinian, a transplant, or have never set foot in the state, I thank you for dedicating your time (and money) to reading this book.

There will be things many of you may already know, as well as tidbits you likely had no clue about. Bear with me, I’m writing this with everyone in mind. If you come across something you’re already familiar with, enjoy reliving it.

Also, the end of this book includes season-by-season stats for each team, however, record keeping wasn’t always detailed, so there are a few gaps. That said, I have done the best to gather as much information as possible.

With all of that out of the way, it’s time to drop the puck!

CHARLOTTE REBELS (EHL; 1955-56)

After a turbulent two-decade run, the Eastern Amateur Hockey League (EAHL) ceased operations prior to the 1953-54 season. After trimming their ranks from 28 teams to 22, the federation returned as the newly christened Eastern Hockey League (EHL) for the 1954-55 campaign. Following a four-year absence, the Baltimore Clippers returned to league play and, while their first season saw them tread water, there were a few bright spots for the Clippers.

Diminutive center Herve Lalonde racked up 22 goals and 50 assists in just 41 games. Winger Ralph DeLeo added 26 goals in 47 games while Al O’Hearn—better known as Bibber—picked up 41 points in only 25 games. There was youth and talent on the roster, leading to a need for patience. With the reborn franchise set to embark on their second season, there was reason for hope. Unfortunately, things would go sideways for the team.

Lalonde—the team’s reining scoring champ—spent the 1955-56 season with Chicoutimi of the Quebec Hockey League (QHL). Their uneven play seemed to permeate their home rink as, on January 23, 1956, Carlin’s Iceland caught fire and burned to the ground. With twelve home games remaining on the schedule, owner Charlie Rock faced a conundrum. Salvation appeared as a three-man faction spearheaded by Bill Shields.

Under the group’s proposal, they would give the Clippers use of the newly opened Charlotte Coliseum. Able to accommodate 13,500 spectators for hockey, the Coliseum served as a desirable venue. Ultimately, the Clippers—under the Charlotte Rebels moniker—played six of their final twelve home dates in the Queen City. Playing their first game in the new venue on January 30, 1956, they dropped a 6-2 decision to the New Haven Blades. While the outcome was less than ideal, the Rebels drew a crowd of 10, 363 fans while approximately 3,000 had to be turned away.

That’s a fairly impressive number for a new market with a vagabond team. Despite their continued subpar play, the Rebels drew an average of over 6,500 fans in each of the six games played there. Seeing the results at the turnstiles, Rock backpedaled on his earlier intent to return the team to Baltimore ¹, instead opting to make the move to Charlotte permanent. Considering that their average attendance in their new home was triple that of their draw in Baltimore, it made sense from a business standpoint. The question became how it would pay off on the hockey side.

CHARLOTTE CLIPPERS (EHL; 1956-60)

Taking the ice as the Charlotte Clippers, the team came out hot to start the 1956-57 season. Over the course of 64 games, the Clippers lost just 13. Their offense proved too much for most opponents, led by 100 point performances from O’Hearn (117 points), Doug Adam (114 points), Chuck Stuart (108 points), and Stan Werecki (103 points). Lalonde—back from his season in the QHL—added 97 points as Charlotte finished the season with a league-best 364 goals scored. The Clippers were the best regular season team—putting up a 21 game winning streak—before storming through the playoffs and capturing the Walker Cup as league champions.

Just like that, North Carolina had its first professional hockey title.

And it might not have happened. In November 1956, the Washington Lions made a hard pitch for Warecki. Rock stepped in and put an end to the attempt, but it stands to reason that—had they lost the skilled winger—their season may not have been as successful.

With Warecki safely in tow, the Clippers faced off against the Philadelphia Ramblers in a late-November contest. Tensions were high throughout the game, culminating in a scrum between Warecki and Philadelphia defenseman Al Fontana. Ken Murphy stepped in to defend Warecki, receiving a slash to the forehead for his trouble. As tempers reached a boiling point, Charlotte’s John Brophy threw his stick into the stands following a scrap with Ed Bartoli.

With the game spiraling out of control, several Clippers accosted referee George McNeil to voice their displeasure. Coach Andy Brown eventually struck McNeil, resulting in police intervention. Through distraction or sheer anger, Charlotte lost focus and dropped the game by a score of 5-1. Thankfully, none of their players suffered any serious injuries.

The team also featured a young, standout defenseman by the name of John Muckler. The 22-year-old put up 52 points and 126 penalty minutes, acquitting himself as the Clippers’ top defender. Muckler, however, is best remembered by hockey fans for the time he spent as a coach and general manager in the NHL. His greatest successes came with the Edmonton Oilers, where he won two Stanley Cups (1984, 1985) as an assistant coach, two more (1987, 1988) as the assistant head coach, and one (1990) as the team’s head coach. He then had head coaching stints with the Buffalo Sabres and New York Rangers before spending six years as the general manager of the Ottawa Senators.

In net, responsibility fell to 22-year-old Les Binkley. The Owen Sound, Ontario native earned a spot on the EHL second All-Star team for his efforts in helping Charlotte to the top of the standings. Binkley is also a notable name as, during the NHL’s first expansion, he signed with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He would play five seasons in the Steel City and return later as a scout. Binkley was serving in this capacity when the Penguins won back-to-back Stanley Cups in 1991 and 1992.

A newspaper article from December 1956 gave a detailed breakdown of the cost of Binkley’s goaltending equipment:

Belly pad: $20

Shoulder pads: $10

Sweater: $5

Blocker: $20

Catching glove: $20

Pants: $25

Skates: $65

Goal stick: $5

Socks: $5

Goalie pads: $60

That’s a grand total of $235 to outfit a goalie; not too bad. Of course, adjusted for today’s dollar, that would be somewhere around $2400. Still, not awful (and my sympathies to those out there buying goaltending equipment for themselves or their kids).

For a relocated team in a new market, this was just about as good of a first season as anyone could hope for. While their second season saw the offense decline by 89 goals, the Clippers once again sat atop the league in 1957-58 and returned to the playoffs. Unfortunately, a distraction popped up when—during the postseason—word leaked that an ownership change was underway. Charlie Rock, who had moved the team to Charlotte, reached a handshake agreement ² to sell his sixty percent interest in the team to Bill Allen and Jim Whittington. Completion of the deal would give the Charlotte duo full ownership of the team.

Despite this superficial accord, Rock didn’t appear ready to part with the team. Over time, the deal morphed until they reached a final agreement, one that flipped the script of the original proposal. In the end, Rock purchased the shares of Allen and Whittington for a reported $20,000. ³

This revelation sent shock waves through the team’s roster. At a time when minor-league contracts held little guarantee,